Technology is for Seniors, Too!

Technology isn’t just for millennials and younger adults! It’s for older adults, too; in fact, technology can have great benefits for seniors and aging adults. In this month’s edition of the Orchard Park Senior Living blog, we’d like to talk about the benefits technology can have for seniors, along with featuring a list of senior-friendly technology and apps.

Benefits of Technology for Seniors

How can technology benefit seniors, making their lives easier, safer, and even more engaging? Below, we’re listing a few of the ways that seniors can benefit from the new and ever-growing wave of technology:

Increased social connection

Improved communication with loved ones who live far away

More opportunities for lifelong learning and mental stimulation

Greater physical fitness

Improved physical safety and emergency response

Senior-Friendly Apps

There are so many different types of technology to choose from! However, we’ve consulted the sources and have hand-picked a list of senior-friendly technology devices and apps to feature.

If your senior loved one is living in assisted living or in a separate state, there’s nothing they love more than hearing from their loved ones. Now, with apps like Skype or FaceTime, we can make that phone call even more rewarding by adding video! Next time you visit your loved one, show them how to use Skype or FaceTime. Then, make a date for your first video chat. Being able to see you while you catch up over the phone will make your senior feel even closer to you.

FitBit: Get Motivated to Stay Active!

As the saying goes, “You can’t improve what you can’t measure.” Get motivated to stay more active by tracking how many steps you take each day! Set a daily goal and get to stepping! There are many different types of wearable fitness devices out there, some of which even track your heart rate and your sleep. FitBit is a very popular brand among seniors, but there are certainly other options out there, like the Apple Watch.

A Senior-Friendly Cell Phone

While smartphones have lots of different types of capabilities, they’re not always easy for seniors to use. Lifewire has put together a list of the 8 best cell phones for senior citizens to buy, all of which have larger buttons, easy-to-access speed dial functions, and emergency dialing.

Medical Alert Systems: Emergency Response and Peace of Mind

Companies like MobileHelp or GreatCall offer phones, wearable devices, and other products that function as medical alert systems and GPS tracking systems. These products can help to detect falls, providing real-time medical monitoring, location tracking, and quick emergency response and assistance.

Brain Fitness: Using Technology for Mental Stimulation

Here at Orchard Park, our memory care and assisted living residents enjoy weekly Brain Games, where we work out one of our most important muscles: our brains! Nowadays, there are lots of senior-friendly apps that are meant to improve cognitive fitness. The Guardian put together a more comprehensive list, but one of our personal favorites is Luminosity.

We hope that you found these tips to be helpful! Not only is technology helpful for seniors, but it can also be very helpful for families and senior care providers. Our Smile Program, for example, is an online portal that helps to keep residents and families connected. While human connection can never be replaced, it’s great when technology can be used to help keep seniors safer, happier, and healthier. If you’d like more senior health and living tips and insights, be sure to stay updated on our senior living blog.